Conference abstract
Imaging in infectious diseases: the frontline and contentious role of computed tomography during the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in Cameroon
Pan African Medical Journal - Conference Proceedings. 2023:18(88).03
Oct 2023.
doi: 10.11604/pamj-cp.2023.18.88.2167
Archived on: 03 Oct 2023
Contact the corresponding author
Keywords: Computed tomography, imaging, infectious diseases, pandemics
Oral presentation
Imaging in infectious diseases: the frontline and contentious role of computed tomography during the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in Cameroon
Tambe Joshua1,&, Ndip Lucy2
1University of Buea, Buea, Cameroun, 2University of Buea, Buea, Cameroun
&Corresponding author
Introduction: the COVID-19 pandemic was characterized by an increase in the utilization of computed tomography (CT) as a diagnostic tool or in the assessment of disease severity. Respiratory symptoms were most frequent and initial studies described a characteristic appearance of atypical pneumonia on chest CT scans attributable to SARS-CoV-2 virus. The objective was to assess the usefulness of computed tomography imaging during the COVID-19 pandemic in Cameroon
Methods: we review the literature and report on experiences on the utilization of CT imaging during the COVID-19 pandemic in Cameroon.
Results: the utilization of chest CT soared during the COVID-19 pandemic across all centers where this technology was available and functional. There were both physician and self-requests as information had spread that CT was capable of diagnosing COVID-19 disease, and could produce positive findings even when laboratory findings were negative. The routine use of CT for the management of COVID-19 infection led to the development of a severity score, denoted CO-RADS. There were misconceptions by both patients and healthcare providers on the diagnostic capabilities and limitations of CT and PCR assays, often leading to conflicts.
Conclusion: CT imaging proved to be an important diagnostic tool in the management of COVID-19 lung disease. This highlights the potential role of medical imaging that could be harnessed during future pandemics that have the potential of producing macroscopic target organ lesions detectable with imaging.
Imaging in infectious diseases: the frontline and contentious role of computed tomography during the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in Cameroon
Tambe Joshua1,&, Ndip Lucy2
1University of Buea, Buea, Cameroun, 2University of Buea, Buea, Cameroun
&Corresponding author
Introduction: the COVID-19 pandemic was characterized by an increase in the utilization of computed tomography (CT) as a diagnostic tool or in the assessment of disease severity. Respiratory symptoms were most frequent and initial studies described a characteristic appearance of atypical pneumonia on chest CT scans attributable to SARS-CoV-2 virus. The objective was to assess the usefulness of computed tomography imaging during the COVID-19 pandemic in Cameroon
Methods: we review the literature and report on experiences on the utilization of CT imaging during the COVID-19 pandemic in Cameroon.
Results: the utilization of chest CT soared during the COVID-19 pandemic across all centers where this technology was available and functional. There were both physician and self-requests as information had spread that CT was capable of diagnosing COVID-19 disease, and could produce positive findings even when laboratory findings were negative. The routine use of CT for the management of COVID-19 infection led to the development of a severity score, denoted CO-RADS. There were misconceptions by both patients and healthcare providers on the diagnostic capabilities and limitations of CT and PCR assays, often leading to conflicts.
Conclusion: CT imaging proved to be an important diagnostic tool in the management of COVID-19 lung disease. This highlights the potential role of medical imaging that could be harnessed during future pandemics that have the potential of producing macroscopic target organ lesions detectable with imaging.
